Go Down Moses

“Go Down Moses” is my festival offering which closed the workshop. It included a retelling of the Golden Calf episode, highlighting the horrific demand God placed on Moses – to kill some of his family, or else he (God) would kill them all. This is what makes the Golden Calf episode, in my estimation, among the worst stories ever told – and one worth changing.

The purpose of the community, the workshop and the festival is to experiment with such changes – and with the hypothesis that changing stories might change the world. For me, this story should not be revered scripture, but instead, a cautionary tale about the power of myth.

Scenography (Sc.)

We originally used modified versions of Marc Chagall's amazing Exodus pieces

During your workshop, you will collaborate on original scenography

Music: "Go Down Moses"

Master of Scenarios:

There’s Moses on the mountain holding tablets of stone

There’s singing and dancing around the golden calf

He smashes the tablets, the ground opens up

And swallows the bad guys

But that’s not what happens

That’s not the story

That’s Cecil B. DeMille in his writer’s room

That’s Cecil B. DeMille making a family film

Moses is gone for over a month

The people are restless and ask his brother Aaron

Community:

Please build us a shiny symbol of gold

To rally our spirits, while we wait on Moses, we’ll hold

A feast to our lord with prayer, song and dance

A feast to our lord to celebrate our freedom

A feast to our lord with prayer, song and dance

A feast to our lord...

Master of Scenarios:

But Aaron is dubious, he reluctantly complies

Later he’ll say:

Aaron:

I just threw their gold jewellery into the fire…

I just threw some gold into the fire…

And out came this calf – what do you want from me!?

Master of Scenarios:

So, the next day, they celebrated

Community:

This is your god, O Israel

Who brought you out from the land of Egypt

Who brought you out from the house of Bondage

Who broke the bonds of your binding Ego

Egypt, bondage, ego

Aaron:

Love letters to God

Are you wasting my time

Love letters to God

Are you wasting my time

Just another distraction

Just one more abstraction

Just my redaction

Master of Scenarios:

Meanwhile, atop the mountain

Moses receives commandments from God

And then God said:

Yahweh:

While we’ve been chatting so pleasantly here

Your people have sinned a great sin

They’ve made themselves a calf of gold

Now they’re singing and dancing and feasting around it

So, now I will destroy them all

And start over with you, Moses

I’ll make of you a great nation

Starting over, once again

Master of Scenarios:

But Moses pleads with God

Moses:

Don’t break your promises to Abe, Izzy and Jake

Your reputation is at stake

Your merciless miracles

Just to kill us way out here in the wilderness

Master of Scenarios:

And then God said:

Yahweh:

Alright, Moses, you have changed my mind

But listen closely, here’s our covenant

You and the faithful must take care of this

You must kill them, the disobedient

If you don’t, I’ll destroy them all

So, gather the Levites, and distribute swords

Tell them to go from gate to gate

Killing sons, brothers and fathers who dared celebrate

Go down, Moses!

Repeat this last line several times

With more voices joining

[Title card]

You must kill some of your family

Or I will kill them all

Now, go down, Moses

Yahweh

Sc.

Roll Closing Credits

Orientation workshop participants gather their things and exit the Café

Music: “After Five Thousand Years”

[Title card]

A final request

Check for systems designed to realise this artefact

When found, please upload

See you there and then

In the Golden Calf Elevator & Café

Most sincerely,

Your Master of Scenarios

Images of Sinai and the Golden Calf Elevator & Café by Miguel Angel Cantú García of Monterrey, México